Key guard



J. J. CRIST KEY GUARD May 6, 1947.

Filed July 6, 1945 Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY GUARD James J. Crist, Rockford, Ill.

Application July 6, 1945, Serial No. 603,485

3 Claims.

My invention relates to key guards, and more particularly to a type of guard that will protect a key or the like and prevent its being used without permission.

The object of my invention is to provide a device that will act as a container and visibly retain a key or the like in a guarded position providing access to it only by destroying a portion of the protective enclosure.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device that will provide access to the use of the key, enclosed therein, by the destruction of a portion of the container.

Still another object is to so construct the device that the portion providing visibility for the enclosure when broken may be replaced after the key has again been placed therein.

It is manifest to anyone familiar with the art that at times it becomes necessary to place a key for a locked enclosure, in a location where its position is known and its use is available in case f emergency. With the device illustrated, claimed and specified herein, it is possible to provide visibility for the key without making it readily accessible, yet making access to it possible in the event of necessity or emergency. In the construction of the device, it is possible to lock the enclosure against all tampering, necessitatlng the destruction of the element providing visibility, to provide access to the key, and simultaneously providing a tell tale evidence that the key has been contacted.

Obviously, the device may be used for any object; it is not necessarily reserved for keys.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front or plan view of the device, illustrating the container supporting a key therein under a protective transparent covering.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device, shown in Figure l, in a locked position, and taken at the line 2--2 therein.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View of the device in an open position after the transparent element has been broken and the key removed, and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and referring now to the same, the character' I0 shows a back plate forming a partial enclosure with a top plate II and side plates I2 and I2'. A transparent insert I3 is slidably placed into the grooves I4 disposed within the inside face of the top plate II and the side plates I2 and I2. There is a recessed portion I5 extending around the inner face of the enclosure formed by the top plate I I and the side plates I2 and I2. On the inside face of the back plate I0 is a resilient member I6 attached at II and having its upper edge or end projecting outward from the surface of the plate I0.

There are apertures I8 through the plate Iii which are employed for receiving screws used for attaching the plate I!) to some convenient places on the wall or the like.

slidably disposed within the recess I5 is a retaining member IS provided with a bottom plate 20 having a groove 2| in direct alignment with the groove I4 for receiving. the lower edge of the transparent insert I3, and the back plate I0 is equipped with a recess 22 to accommodate the bottom plate 20. This retaining member I9 has an aperture 23 placed at an angle in a position to accommodate the radially formed upper edge of the resilient member I6 and an angularly disposed slot 24 on the rearward side of the retaining member accommodates the resilient member I5 as shown in Figure 2.

On the front face of the retaining member I9 is a hook 25 attached at a point above the aperture 23. This hook 25 is arranged to support the key 26 suspended visibly within the entire enclosure.

In operation, the key 26 is suspended on the hook 25 of the retaining member I9. A transparent insert I3 is inserted into the grooves I4 and as the member I9 is slidably inserted into the recess I5 the resilient member I6 will slidably contact the rearward face of the member I9 to a point where the upper edge of the member I6 will contact the inner face of the aperture 23, thus locking the plate 20' in position where it engages the recess 22 of the back plate IIJ, and the lower edge of the transparent insert I3 en- 'ters the groove ZI of the lower plate 20.

In this manner, the key 26 will be entirely, yet visibly, sealed within the enclosure, and access to it may only be had by breaking the transparent insert I3. When the key is again ready to be sealed, the broken parts of the insert I3 are removed, the resilient member I6 is forced backward out of engagement withthe aperture 23 and the retaining member I 9 is slidably moved downward and out of engagement so a new transparent member I3 may be inserted and the sealing operation be repeated.

If desired, a conventional alarm system may be employed and applied to the transparent member I3 to sound off an alarm when the transparent member is broken.

In the chosen embodiments of my invention, there are present many new and novel features not heretofore disclosed in the prior art, and although I have illustrated and described a specific construction, I do not Wish to limit myself to the construction shown, for I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes in the form and conguration of the various parts are possible, and I reserve the right to make such changes as may be practical or necessary without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. A device of the character described, cor prising in combination an enclosure consisting of a rear wall, a top plate and two side plates, a transparent front plate, means for inserting the transparent front plate into said top and side plates, a retaining member slidably engaging the side members, a bottom plate attached to said retainingmember, a resilient member extending outward from said rear wall, said retaining member provided with an aperture therethrough registering with said resilient member, said resilient member engaging said aperture, and means on said retaining member for supporting the object to be protected.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a rear wall, a top plate, two side plates, said top plate and side plates attached to said rear wall and provided with a groove disposed longitudinally along the inner face of said top plate and side Walls, a transparent member arranged fo-r engagement with said groove, a retaining member, said retaining member slidably contacting the inner face of said side plates, a bottom plate forming a part of said retaining member, said bottom plate provided with a groove to accommodate the lower edge of said transparent member, a resilient member attached to said rear wall, and extending outward therefrom, an aperture in said retaining member, said aperture registering With and arranged for engagement with said resilient member, and means on said retaining member for supporting the object to be protected within the enclosure formed.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a partial enclosure formed by a rear wall, a top plate, two side plates, said top plate and side plates attached to said rear wall and provided with a groove disposed longitudinally along the inner face along said top plate and said walls near the open end thereof, a transparent member arranged for slidably engaging said groove, a retaining member, said retaining member slidably contacting the inner face of said side plates parallel with the rear wall, a bottom plate forming a part of said retaining member, said bottom plate provided with a groove to accommodate the lower edge of said transparent member thereby Aforming a complete enclosure when said bottom plate engages the lower edge of said transparent member. a resilient member yattached to said back plate in a vertical position between said back -plate and Vretaining member, said -resilient member having its depending upper end extending outward from said back plate, said retaining member provided wit-h an aperture registering with the upper edge of said resilient member for engagement therewith when said retaining member is brought upward to seal the enclosure, and means on the forward facevof said retaining member for supporting the object to be retained within the enclosure.

JAMES J. CRIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 334,808 Reynolds Jan. 26, 1886 1,487,850 Miller Mar. 25, 1924 1,664,994 Rea Apr. 3, 1928 

